Habitude

By SouthFultonMom

September 18, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

We bought a 3000 sq ft home, not including the basement which is another 1300 sq ft that we’re in the process of having finished. Once it’s all done, we’ll have a lot of space. It works great for us because with two kids, it’s the space that we need. I do find it hard to keep clean and my husband wants to hire a cleaning service. I won’t let that happen! Four people should be able to keep a house clean.

Once my youngest is out of college, we’ve decided to sell for a condo or much smaller ranch home. We should make enough to pay cash.

By tlc

September 18, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

I have a large 4 bedroom, and when we retire, I definitely plan to downsize for all of the reasons listed above. The problem is that we’re probably going to have to build our own house, because everything I’m seeing being built out there right now is HUGE. I don’t really want a condo, and they just don’t seem to be building smaller houses anymore. I wish some builder would understand that as we boomers retire, we want some thing smaller, but upscale. We don’t really want a starter home, which is all you see when looking at smaller homes.

By Peachy

September 18, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

I agree with tlc, we want to go smaller, but there are no small, quality homes being built. A builder told me that land was too expensive to use for smaller homes. I don’t want to have to move half way to Tennessee to get a smaller home. Secondly, the home we are in now would not sell quickly. Our neighborhood is getting older, and although it is beautiful, it is not the newest thing around and will probably be overlooked.

By AJCMom

September 18, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

The hubby and I are in our late 40’s, and have too many square feet in this big house (about 4,250 total on 3 levels), but it’s useful for now when the resident teenager brings a bunch of friends home. The price was certainly right back in the early 90’s, and it works for now, but the escalating cost of maintaining a house built almost 20 years ago (not to mention the stairs) won’t be logical or practical. I agree with TLC that the next trend/wave ought to be smaller residences, but with better-designed traffic flow and better-quality building materials and features. Basically, if I accidentally leave a book somewhere else in the house, it shouldn’t require a 15-minute hike to retrieve it. Too much house is just… too much. Too much to cool, heat, clean, and bother with.

Attention, builders who want to be left standing at the end of this current economic fiasco: The iPod generation is going to ROFL if some sales rep tells them they “have” to accept those tacky builder/material supplier contracted things like pre-selected carpet, countertops, fixtures, appliances, cheap windows, and the like. Those days are over, cowboys.

By KLK

September 18, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

We are a childless couple in our late 40s and lucked out with the house we bought 4 years ago in East Cobb. The house has 2 BRs/2 BAs on the main floor, and 2 BRs/1 BA upstairs and a full basement. It is just enough house for us, as we live on the main floor. Upstairs is decorated, but the heat/air are shut off and use this floor when family visits. I check up there once a week for dusting and bathroom refresh. The basement is my husband’s office and may soon finish part of it for a media room, but wonder if we will ever use it. Low maintenance area. Not a lot of yard to keep as the back part is all wooded to Sope Creek. The front is easy to maintain. I do my own house cleaning and reward myself w/ the money I would spend on a maid. A condo would not work for us, b/c of the business. I am also close to work. When we leave this house, we leave Atlanta. It is a house we could retire in and enjoy now, while we are in our prime years.

By RJ

September 18, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

There are some “adult” communities for ages 55+ that offer one level with nice upgrades. There just aren’t enough.

By SW

September 18, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

I am a 30 something year old female who is in the process of leaving her husband. I only have 1 teenage child. I just currently put an offer on a 2100 square 3bd 2.5bth rm. Of course my son thinks its too small but I think its great. In 4 years it will be only me and I do not want to have to go through trying to sell and move again.

By JJ

September 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

I’ll be downsizing in about 4-5 years. My daughter if off to college next fall, so I’ll wait a few more years. I want her to be able to come “home” to a house she knows and grew up in, for the first couple of years away.

Then I want a ranch - NO STAIRS, no bonus room, no basement. ONE LEVEL, with a fenced back yard. Why don’t they build ranches anymore? My knees won’t allow stairs much longer……

A Dell Webb community appeals to me. Smaller homes, smaller yards, and someone else does the yard work. As long as I can have a garden area I’m happy…….

By anne

September 18, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

I was thinking of just this issue when I built my 3 BR/2BA house 15 years ago. It is a ranch with a street level entrance - no steps to the front door or from the garage into the house. My daughter thinks the house is too small. She wants one of those multi-story mcmansions. But she’s in middle school, won’t be at home much longer, and she’s not paying the mortgage.

The only accommodation that I plan to make as I age is to retro-fit the master bathroom with some grab bars. It’s something I realized that I needed when I had a knee injury recently.

By Lissa

September 18, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

My husband and I are 30 with no children (nor any planned). He bought the house 6 yrs ago for a very good price. With the finished basement, it is essentially a 3-story house (5 br-3.5 ba) and many times, it’s just too much. It was fine when he had roommates upstairs so at least the space was used. With the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom on the main floor, I rarely have a reason to go upstairs. I have an “office” up there, but I’m just as happy with a laptop on the main floor most of the time. I even have a “sitting room” complete with comfy furniture and a tv up there, yet haven’t used it in over a year.

We have so much space, yet it is just filled! I had a fully furnished apartment of my own before I moved in so now there’s just a ton of furniture. I’m seriously getting to the point where I’m ready to start selling things, but it’s hard to let go. There’s so many pieces that I loved and have a hard time parting with and of course he doesn’t want to see the furniture from his bachelor days go either.

I guess what we’re going through is what most couples go through when they combine their “stuff.” In our case, there was actually room for it all to fit in the house so the paring down is delayed. Now I’m just fed up! I’d almost prefer the empty room than more stuff to dust!

By TheBlogger

September 18, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

YES!

I am continuously shocked by what people think they need, today.

I see parents with one child claim that they NEED an SUV. Oh, please! My mother had 6 children and never dreamed of an SUV. She had a Ford sedan and then ‘upgraded’ to a station wagon. These SUVs are out of control and that is one good thing coming out of these outrageous gas prices - people are getting rid of them.

The same with houses. For some reason, parents today think that they NEED not only a bedroom per child but also a bathroom per child. Give me a break! I grew up in a house with one “boy’s” room and one “girl’s” room. The kids shared everything from beds to closets. The whole house had only one bathroom.

We have gotten extremely spoiled. There is no wonder why so many people are going bankrupt and why the Country economy is a disaster.

By chakra7

September 18, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

well, for me, I’m only 36 with two children, 12 and 3 - but I am a single parent and am selling my house, which is a three, two bath and a half cottage, contemporary style home. Reason being first and foremost, financial, but secondly, I’m just plain tired of maintenance. It’s no joke as a single woman when the tiniest thing goes wrong in or outside the house. Just a lift in that part of the responsibility is enough to make me really appreciate a condo or townhome - maintenance free.

By awm

September 18, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

The builders are not the ones who determine the square footage. The county building departments set the guidelines, that the builders have to adhere to.

By HCR

September 18, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

I’d love to down size to a smaller ranch style one story home. But I face a two fold problem. First, I have to sell my 4000 sq ft. home to someone else. In today’s market, most people want to STEAL rather than buy a home. Secondly, I have a dog that needs a large yard area. It’s difficult to find large yard and small home inside the perimeter. A condo is out of the question due to my dog. Furthermore, you are living with other people under one roof. There is going to noise from other tenants moving around the a condo complex. The noise would be a negative.I also dislike condo HOA fees. So for the time being, I’m staying put.

By JS

September 18, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Well when I get ready to leave this lovely city (any day now) someone out there can buy my 1978’s chic 1100 sq feet ranch on 1/2 acre with fenced in back yard in Alpharetta.

By Dee

September 18, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

My husband and I are on the verge of retirement. Both kids are out of college and supporting themselves(hallelujah!!!). We planned ahead and bought some property and plan to build on it.

We have been working with an architect and have discovered that ‘downsizing’ doesn’t mean smaller rooms but fewer rooms. We’re currently living in 4600 sq ft including the finished basement(an absolute necessity when your kids are teens). Our new house will be about 3000 sq ft with fewer rooms and more wide open spaces(good for the ole wheelchair if we ever need one) and plenty of small bedrooms to stick the kids when they come to visit.

By Patrick in Roswell

September 18, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

What I’m wondering about is up-sizing. With all of these foreclosure props around town, wouldn’t it make sense to sell my 4/3 bath and buy one of these bank-owned (or soon to be) houses and low ball the bank with what I’m paying now, but get a lot more house for my buck? Did I type that correctly so you all understand?

By oh yea

September 18, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

I’ve been thinking about it for a while but with the real estate market so crazy, I’m not going to give my home away. We ordered a log kit that came in over-sized and we ended up with a 5,300 sq ft home. It’s definately beautiful but I’m sick of cleaning it. With only (1) child at home, about 1/3 of the house actually gets used. When things get better out there, I’m putting it straight on the market.

By Boomer

September 18, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

tlc is right - the smaller homes are mainly starters. With both kids getting out of college next year we have considered moving from our 4,500 sf, 5 br 3 level home. We used to have need of the guest rooms, game room etc. But now they hardly get used. We looked at smaller homes, but I want one that’s finished out well unless we went closer into town and my husband doesn’t want to do that. We love our house and our yard, but just don’t use it. I’d rather stay here than move into a smaller home that doesn’t have the features I want.

I’m sure there are a lot of boomers out there getting to the same stage we are and a full featured smaller home would be great.

By The Truth

September 18, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Patrick now is a great time to upgrade but make sure you push as far as the bank will go. Also, just because a home is sold “as-is”. Doesn’t mean you cant ask for repairs. Bank want to make deals happen. Also, ask for all closing costs including prepaids. You’ll want to strike up the best deal possible because believe it or not we may not have hit rock bottom yet and later you could of still overpaid.

With that being said I’ve seen $100-150 discounts on homes needing minimal repairs.

By pco

September 18, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

awm

what in the world are you talking about? the county doesn’t dictate what size house you build. they make sure you build withing the guidelines/setbacks, etc. They could care less what size house you build as long as it doesn’t go over lot coverage and height restrictions. get you facts straight.

By Peter

September 18, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this

I plan on taking the rooms our kids used before moving out and renting them to needy young Vietnamese girls. This way I don’t have to move, and I have a bargaining chip for a little action. The wife checked out in the bedroom department years ago.

By No room to visit

September 18, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

Does anyone else experience parents & grandparents downsizing to where they have no room for guests, but complaining about how you never bring the grandchildren to visit them? Hello? Have more than one double bed for my family of 5 to sleep on and maybe we’ll visit you!

By almh

September 18, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

We have a 3 bed 1 and 1/2 bath 1300 sf ranch with a full basement. I like the fact that there is no wasted space, every room is used every day. I would like to finish the basement for a guest room/play area for the kids. In a small house they’ve taken over the living room.

By Fun to do

September 18, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

When I visit open houses I like to pee and/or poop in the tank of the toilet. It gets a great reaction from the next person to check out the bathroom. Good luck selling your McMansion - because I go to lots of open houses.

By Reality Check

September 19, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

But other posters are right, they just refuse to build a small house.

We entertain FOR BUSINESS a lot and had to have the living space to handle a well sized party. We certainly didn’t need a 5 bedroom house (no kids). But entertaining clients and co-workers is fundmental to our livelihood. We thought about building our own with two bedrooms and a niced sized kitchen, dining and living area for entertaining, but EVERYONE told us it would never resale.